Finding my inner artist through hand stitching

I am a big fan of creating garments from scratch (and so is my bank account), but the one thing that Alabama Chanin does much better than me is stencil placement. I’ve created several garments from TSOM’s DIY kits and I have to say that every time the stencil placement is perfect. They must have … Continue reading The Art of Stencil Placement

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I've been wanting to make the Market Bag (from page 107 of Alabama Studio Style) ever since I ordered this book back in 2010 based on a book review in the Wall Street Journal. It just seemed like the perfect use for all those T shirts we acquire over time. Caution - political rant coming … Continue reading March Market Bag Madness

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If you've read my blog or followed me on Instagram, you know that I am on a quest to make myself an all organic cotton hand sewn wardrobe. Thanks to Alabama Chanin, I'm getting closer everyday. But, most of the tops I've made have been sleeveless and the cold weather this year finally made me … Continue reading My First Ezra Blazer

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My fascination with Black and Navy continues. After making my latest dress and bolero I decided it would be nice to make a tote to match. A tote is a small commitment with a big impact. Several years back, my sister embellished the totes we received at our weekend workshop at the Alabama Chanin Factory … Continue reading A June’s Spring Tote

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For as much as a mother of teenagers complains about social media, the interwebs really do have great things to offer. I could spend hours scanning Pinterest and stalking my friends on Facebook. BTW - if you haven't checked out my Everyday Artisan Pinterest page you really should. I have organized hundreds of Alabama Chanin … Continue reading My attempt to recreate an Alabama Chanin Dress I saw online.

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I can't tell you how inspiring it is to see a master at work. I was so fortunate to be a part of RVA Makerfest this past weekend and I got to meet so many people who are masters of their craft. I was also inspired by how many people were there to learn. Speaking … Continue reading Natalie’s Stitching Classes

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To get my new studio's stitching nights off to a great start, I decided to create a few small projects to share with my fellow stitchers. First up were my lavender sachets, then we made Alabama Chanin flowers from Alabama Stitch Book, and last month I decided to try something a little different. I had … Continue reading Cuff Bracelets

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Last fall, I preordered Natalie's newest book, The Geometry of Stitches. When it was delivered in November, I was so pleased. Not only did it describe many of the decorative stitches that Alabama Chanin uses to embellish their garments, but it included some great tools to help even a beginner master the stitches. My … Continue reading The Striped Scarf

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Events, Holidays, Freezing temps, it's been a whirlwind since I last wrote so I figured I needed to take a moment to catch up. My holiday events were such a great experience; I got to talk with some people who already know about Natalie and Alabama Chanin and to introduce some new people to hand … Continue reading 2018 Catch up